Earlier, I wrote about how when it comes to completing a college application or advancing a work goal — myths about time management are many.

Here is part two of the blog post which tries to interpret time myths that may keep us from project productivity.

Myth 3: Important tasks take a long time

Important tasks that we are passionate about doing can consume most hours of our day, but if we are compiling information on a deadline for college or for a professional report, then we want to quicken the time it takes to complete the tasks.

What I learned from journalism is that important tasks can be done in faster paces if you can outline the beginning and end of that task. It’s what one news professor who used to work for a daily paper where reporters had to write three-to-four stories a day, told me:

“I’d be out in the field, reporting a story, and before I arrived back at the paper, I’d outline the entire story in the car, the beginning, the middle, the end, and who said what. Once at the newspaper, I could just write and save lots of time.”

Myth 4: Avoiding problems saves you time

When I was applying to Columbia University’s graduate journalism school,

I took three months to write my personal essay about my life and interests–

three months because I had a big problem: deciding what parts of my life

were essential and compelling to tell was a huge exercise in deciphering

a million big and little events.

The problem grew bigger and bigger as I shared my essay with different friends and accepted their criticism that my essay drafts were “all over the place” or “not clear.”

At first, I tried avoiding the problem by writing differently, but in reality, I had to get confident in selecting just one storyline from my life and committing to it.

When I faced down my problem of deciding what to write, instead of writing around my indecision, I completed my biographical essay in three hours and handed in my application, which was successful.

The ultimate essay was about how my hair, coiled and springy, was a metaphor for my childhood of tangled identities and talents, which unlocked their potential the more and more I gained pride in my hair and my direction. So I say, if you have a problem, meet it face to face. Working through problems will empower your time with the speed of

When it comes to managing our time, and for special projects such as applying to college or advancing work goals, myths about time and productivity abound.

I love this quote by Thoreau because it encourages us to think about how we use our time, and to realize that not all work is productive work.

Here, I want to talk about some of the myths related to time management that I have studied as a business journalist, English facilitator in Dakar, and project coordinator.

Myth 1. Working alone provides more focus.

Many of us isolate ourselves when we want to finish an urgent task — but in historic cases — when people are on deadline and are producing a very important project, they tend to work in groups. Think about newspapers, or the cooking of Korite dinner. Why work alone on an essay or application when you can gain the input and support of a group of people? People inspire us, give us great ideas, and also monitor our execution of tasks. People are our allies and mentors. And they range from professional guides such as college admissions advisors at Chez Alpha, to everyday friends and family.

A good approach to working with others is to talk with your allies and discuss your need for their help. Gain the consent and interest of your allies, and talk about times you’ll anticipate and engage certain activities.

Myth 2: More information is better than less

Recently, I read Malcolm Gladwell’s stunning book “Blink” about making decisions in quick splits of time, particularly using organized thought, intuition, and human feeling to make better choices. In one chapter, he studies doctors who have to diagnose heart conditions in the emergency room and learned that many of them in a Chicago ward, guess wrong, and send patients home who actually need intense immediate care.

Gladwell found that these doctors don’t have a set method of diagnosing heart patients. Rather, these doctors spend several hours running dozens of soft and hardcore tests — when really, to decide if a heart problem is urgently serious, a specialist can perform just three targeted tests and greatly approve the accuracy of their diagnosis. In that Chicago hospital — administering three heart tests– and not a dozen systems of investigation, that is — less-not-more — has saved many lives.

Likewise, we can create a method for making decisions regarding which college to attend, and what jobs to join or create. That procedure can include just three things we’re looking for in a successful university or job. For college, that may be attending a school with an excellent writing program, notable faculty, and in a diverse city. We can make stronger decisions by looking at the way things can meet our most essential goals.

And sometimes, decisions require a swift understanding of our feelings — and that’s all. So if you find yourself writing an admission essay or cover letter that does not excite you — it’s probably best to stop and re-consider why you don’t feel good about the project. When our heart is a guide, we tend to work faster, harder, and passionately toward a goal.

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Next week, the Missing Piece will publish part 2 of this blog.

For now, I’d love to read from you. What myths about time management are you changing?

In an age of fast-growing start-up companies, it may be hard to convince a business school admission why you need a business school education to launch a company– if indeed that’s what you want to do.

You can start by discussing the merits of your business plan and how a degree will set off your start-up? But first let’s look back.

A start-up is a new and limited operating company under fast development. Unlike big corporations, start-ups tend to do what corporations can’t like provide better customized experiences for clients and reach intimately niched markets. A start-up can be as focused as managing a team of washers to do laundry for families in Dakar.

If you want to start a company from a fresh idea and with a small group of people? Then you want a start-up?

Now why do you need business school?

Perhaps you’re looking for a specialized network a business school can provide or the chance to learn a noteworthy skill in business school that can launch your start-up which needs intellectual support. It’s up to you to answer: how will business school push my great start-up idea?

Some experts say if you’re in business school — quickly decide if you’re a job-hunter or a business-starter. There’s a reason. If you want to start a company, it’s a good idea to start in college. The Business School Journal reports:

A business student is someone that goes to business school, takes courses, graduates and looks for a job. An entrepreneurial student is someone that starts their own business while still in business school.

Some people are natural entrepreneurs, even students. Numerous successful business powerhouses – such as Dell Computers, Microsoft, FedEx and Apple – got started in college. You don’t have to be a geek, but you do need some basic accounting, advertising, market research and business skills, and a specific salable skill (how you’ll earn your income). College is actually an ideal place to start a business because students tend to be bright-eyed, passionate and unjaded. As well, classmates tend not to mind other classmates promoting their business.

Having a few start-up ideas can expand your purpose in business school and enrich your experience, particularly by mastering how to design products, services and income.

The power of knowledge is the ability to share knowledge with other people. What better way to share knowledge than through networking.Pic: Human Capital Institute
Networking is a method of communication used for many different purposes. However, the main purpose of networking is to keep in touch with people through conversations.

Conversations are the key to networking. Every conversation is an opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas and share information – an opportunity to network. So, whether you are networking professionally or personally, use your networking skills beyond the company’s annual conference.

Make networking a part of your lifestyle.

It’s easy to collect business cards, names and phone numbers. However, following up with contacts is another story. While it’s difficult to stay in touch every minute or second of the day, finding the time to contact people at least once or twice a year is a good start. Use a special event (i.e. Birthdays and Holidays), as a perfect excuse to contact people or keep in touch.

I haven’t mastered it myself but I do envy people who are able talk themselves in and out of conversations. Holding an interesting conversation is a skill – one that takes practice. So, don’t wait until the company’s annual conference to network. Practice networking every chance you get. The supermarket, library and post office are all places you can practice networking.

However, remember, you can’t do all the talking. Successfully networking also requires listening. You can’t hold an interesting conversation without listening and vice versa.

There are many different ways to network and different types of networking. The key to successful networking is conversation. Every conversation is an opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas and share information – an opportunity to network. Try practicing your networking skills today.

So there is action — motivators and advisors agree. Action is your best friend when it comes to planning and applying for college, or pursuing a new job opportunity.

But what else can help us secure our direction?

Well, when I talk with my English students, who are all experts in their respective fields, from politics to economics — they often mention their heroes –the people whose work they try to emulate. Talking to my students I see the power of sharing knowledge. When we study the best performers in fields we want to pursue, we dedicate our dreams to reality.

When is the last time you’ve had a close conversation with the life of a role model?

In my own personal study of top career performers from Barack Obama to Warren Buffet, what I admire the most about their lives is how they accomplished a lot with a little. In fact, if you look at the stories of most blazing stars, prominent intellectuals, and business people — they persevered despire a lack of resources and found ways to make things work. As I do myself, I encourage you to see your every lack as an opportunity to initiate a bold plan.

Now here is an excerpt from my favorite lifestyle design blogger Tim Ferriss — he’s a global inspiration and an example of how to turn ideas to successful action. About starting your dreams without resources, he writes:

Look for dark horse role models. “I can’t start a company — I’m too old.” Coronel Sanders started KFC after 40. The excuse doesn’t hold up. Can’t compete in sports because of a bum leg? Sprinter Oscar Pistorius has no lower legs and is aiming for the Olympics. You? For each reason for inaction you come up with, ask: has anyone overcome these or worse circumstances to do what I want to do? The answer is: of course.

Embrace your lack of resources, your weaknesses.

Far from a handicap, these are often the pressure points that will take you the furthest… if you’re able to use them instead of excuse them.

The college essay is a major challenge for students seeking admission. Students find the writing process intimidating.

So students write about their achievements instead of personal experiences. Students write using huge vocabulary words and complex sentences. Students focus on their accomplishments and personal experiences without answering the essay question.

College admission boards use college application essays to learn more about students. So students must use the college application essay as their personalized introduction to college admission boards.

My suggestion is to treat each college application essay as if you were on a n important date. You know, you meet that special someone and you want to make a good impression. With that analogy in mind:

Step 1: Find a story to tell.
Students writing a college application essay must use this opportunity to introduce yourself to the college admission board. You don’t want to waste the opportunity listing your every accomplishment. Instead, you want to discuss your personal experiences. You can find a story to tell by asking yourself the following questions:
What do you want people to know about you?
What makes you unique?
What challenges have you overcome?

Step 2: Write in your own words.
It sounds cliché but be yourself. The college application essay is not a test of intellect. You don’t need to use huge vocabulary words and complex sentence structures. Instead, write about yourself the way you would talk to that special someone.

Step 3: Focus on the essay question and be concise.
Students failing to answer an essay question hurt their chances for admission. It’s easy to lose focus telling a story in your own words. So remember the purpose of your story in relation to the essay question and be concise.

For prospective students, writing a college essay is a challenge but it can be achieved. My suggestions are to find a story to tell, write in your own words, focus on the essay question and be concise.